RADFORD, Va. - Opening their weekend series in road Big South conference play, USC Upstate Softball took the field in game one against Radford where the Spartans took the Highlanders to the bottom of the seventh. Radford halted Upstate's late comeback with a walk-off RBI single to win 3-2. 

The action picked up with Radford loading the bases with an infield single, a walk, and a double to get runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly to left field took the attention away from a Highlander runner sprinting home for Radford's first run. Carson Shaw opened the top of the second with an infield single hoping to get their rally going but Radford followed with two consecutive groundouts keeping Upstate scoreless. The Highlanders increased their lead taking advantage of a throwing error in the infield and followed with Amanda Lee hitting an infield single bringing the score to 2-0. The action picked up for Upstate with the bases loaded from two consecutive walks from Radford and a base hit from Sophia Kardatzke. Carson Shaw followed with an RBI single to center field displaying the speed of Taliyah Thomas to score their first run. With another runner in scoring position, Radford's wild pitch gave Upstate the advantage for Denver Lauer to slide into home plate for the tying run. Georgia Preddy looked to give the Spartans the advantage with a two-out single in the top of the seventh but Radford held on to have a final chance to regain the momentum. Radford opened the bottom of the inning with a base hit and a stolen base giving them the advantage to score. The Highlanders walked it off with a single through the right-side giving Radford the upper edge in the weekend series. 

Up Next for the Spartans 

The weekend series continues with a Saturday doubleheader as the Spartans return for games two and three against Radford. Game two will begin at 1:00 and game three will follow at 3:00 P.M. 

SAVE THE DATE FOR SPARTY'S BALL – MAY 17th – Support USC Upstate Athletics at Sparty's Ball, the largest fundraising event of the year for the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF), to be held Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the Milliken Club at Fifth Third Park. For tickets, sponsorship and auction information, click here!         

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